2026 Northern Mariana Islands general election
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Gubernatorial election | |||||||||||||
3 November 2026
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Delegate election | |||||||||||||
3 November 2026
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6 of the 9 seats in the Senate 5 seats needed for a majority | |||||||||||||
This lists parties that won seats. See the complete results below. | |||||||||||||
All 20 seats in the House of Representatives 11 seats needed for a majority | |||||||||||||
This lists parties that won seats. See the complete results below. | |||||||||||||
4 Mayors | |||||||||||||
This lists parties that won seats. See the complete results below. | |||||||||||||
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The 2026 Northern Mariana Islands General election will be held on November 3, 2026, corresponding with the 2026 United States general elections. Voters in the Northern Mariana Islands will vote for the Governor of the Northern Mariana Islands, the non-voting delegate to the United States House of Representatives, attorney general, 6 seats in the Northern Mariana Islands Senate, all twenty seats in the Northern Mariana Islands House of Representatives, 4 mayors, seats for the various municipal councils, and seats for the board of education.
Since 2023, a governing coalition made up of independents and Democrats has governed the Northern Mariana Islands. In the 2024 general election, Republicans won the open US delegate seat while independents not aligned with the Arnold Palacios administration made modest gains in the legislature.[1] The Republican National Committee announced Palacios rejoined the Republican Party after the 2024 elections. Palacios’ return received a lukewarm to hostile reception from local Republicans.[2][3]
Key issues for the 2026 election remain similar to the previous general elections, with the economy and corruption being key issues that many criticize Governor Palacios and the Democrat-Independent Coalition for failing to rectify.[4] The island’s largest industry, tourism, have not recovered since the COVID-19 pandemic, and tourism have fallen compared to 2024 numbers.[5][6] Another issue is the Administration’s hostility to reopening the Chinese tourism market, likely due to the declining relations between the United States and the People’s Republic of China.[7] The decision by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection to abruptly stop processing travelers’ applications under the CNMI Economic Vitality & Security Travel Authorization Program (EVS-TAP) has crippled the Chinese tourism market for the CNMI.[5][8] The two weekly flights by Hong Kong Airlines have been suspended until June 16 pending reinstatement of the program.[5][8]
Gubernatorial election
Governor Arnold Palacios was elected with 54.14% of the vote in the runoff election in 2022. He was eligible to run for re-election in 2026, but died on July 23, 2025.[9] David M. Apatang, the incumbent governor sworn in on July 23, 2025, has announced on March 29, 2026 that he would not seek a full term.[10] Former House Speaker Blas T. Attao announced that he will run for Governor as an independent.[11]
Delegate to the US House of Representatives
Republican Party president Joseph Lee Pan Guerrero has stated that reelecting Kimberly King-Hinds as Delegate remains the top priority for the party.[12] On June 20th, 2025, Galvin S. Deleon Guerrero, the president of Northern Marianas College and nephew of former delegate Gregorio Sablan, announced his candidacy as an independent.[13]
Attorney General
Edward Manibusan was reelected in 2022 with 55.17% of the vote against former judge Juan Tudela Lizama.[14] He has not announced his intentions.
Senate
Six of the nine seats of the Northern Mariana Islands Senate will be up for reelection.
District 1
District 1 is coterminous with the island of Rota. In 2022, Dennis C. Mendiola and Donald M. Manglona were elected to the Senate to represent District 1.[15] In 2025, Mendiola was elevated to the lieutenant governor and succeeded by Paul Manglona.[16]
Candidates
- Robert Harrison Atalig Myers Jr. (Republican), attorney.[17]
District 2
District 2 is coterminous with Tinian Municipality. In 2022, incumbents Jude Hofschneider and Francisco Q. Cruz were reelected to represent District 2.[15]
District 3
District 3 includes Saipan and the Northern Islands. In 2022, Celina Babauta and Corina Magofna were elected to represent District 3.[15]
Candidates
- Celina Babauta (Democratic), incumbent senator (2023-present)[18]
- Vicente Castro Camacho (Independent), former member of the CNMI House of Representatives (2021-2025)[19]
- Marco T. Peter (Republican), former member of the CNMI House of Representatives (2019-2021)[20]
- Vinnie Sablan (Republican), former senator (2019-2025)[21]
House of Representatives
The election for all 20 seats in the House of Representatives will be held. Incumbents Blas T. Attao and Edmund Villagomez are retiring to run together on an independent ticket for governor and lieutenant governor respectively.[22]
Local elections
Mayors
Northern Islands
Valentino Nicky Taisacan was elected in 2022 with 63.74% of the vote.[15]
Rota
Incumbent mayor Aubry Manglona Hocog was elected to office in 2022 with 34.95% of the vote against four other candidates.[15] She has not announced her intentions.
Saipan
Ramon Jose Blas "RB" Camacho was elected in 2022 with 38.04% of the vote against two other candidates.[15] Mayor Camacho is running for reelection.[23] He is being challenged by Joel C. Camacho, a member of the Northern Mariana Islands House of Representatives from Precinct #4.[24]
Tinian
Mayor Edwin P. Aldan is term-limited and cannot run for reelection. On April 11th, 2026, Antonio San Nicolas Borja, who served as Tinian's representative in the CNMI House of Representatives during the 21st Commonwealth Legislature, defeated incumbent Tinian representative Patrick H. San Nicolas for the Republican nomination for mayor. Borja won with an overwhelming 543 votes to San Nicolas' 180 votes.[25]
Municipal councils
Elections for the municipal councils will be held.
